Age dependence of the T2-weighted MRI signal in brain structures of a prosimian primate (Microcebus murinus).
Mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) are prosimian primates described to be convenient models of brain aging. We observed very high correlations between the T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal decrease and the natural logarithm of age in the basal ganglia. The correlation coefficient was higher for the pallidum (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001) than for other structures. We suggest that the ratio of the pallidum intensity divided by the amygdala and temporal lobe intensity should be a valuable non-invasive marker of age and of cerebral aging. It should be particularly useful for the non-invasive assessment of interventions and drugs that affect the aging process.
Dhenain
M
M
INSERM U 324, Paris, France. dhenain@broca.inserm.fr
Volk
A
A
Picq
J L
JL
Perret
M
M
Boller
F
F
Michot
J L
JL
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016565:Cheirogaleidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male